How to Get Into Stanford – Part Two – Extra Curricular Activities

How to Get Into Stanford – Activities can Help

If you want to get into Stanford, you will be asked to provide information on your extracurricular activities during you high school career. Since a large percentage of applicants have high test scores and grade point averages, your choice of activities can often set you apart from other applicants.

Often students ask, “How many activities should I be involved in?” While it is important to be an involved student, it is a mistake to think that you have to take part in an overload of activities. Here is a key point to remember:

It is more important to show depth in one or two activities rather than to spread yourself thin being involved in an overabundance of less meaningful activities.

The admissions department is quite aware that a typical overachiever applicant’s schedule is jam-packed. They know that unless you are super-human there’s no way you can be deeply involved in too many activities. What stands out to them is your passion for the activity or pursuit. How far did you take your participation? How did your experience affect you, your fellow students, or the community? Were you a leader and did you find a way to share your passion with others? These are the types of questions the admissions staff will be thinking of when your application is reviewed.

What types of activities will help you get into Stanford? It could be clubs, hobbies, extracurricular academic programs, internships, research, or work experience. The important thing is to show a fundamental commitment that displays your passion, leadership, and accomplishment.

An example of leadership and passion would be for you to be president of, let’s say the ski club. You are an avid skier, you have raced competitively, and you are trying to get others involved in your club. What would make this better? Maybe you founded the ski club and built up its membership in your last two years of high school. What would show more depth? Maybe you organized competitions between other nearby schools, or found a way for your club to sponsor handicap skiing programs. Common traits among Stanford students are the depth of their passion and commitment once they plunge into an activity. Show the admissions staff that you too have this passion and commitment.